Who will cover Colts WR T.Y. Hilton

[Brady6]

I would put Dennard on Hilton, because Talib would probably have trouble keeping up with him.

Talib is just not slow by any stretch of the imagination, he ran a 4.42 forty at the combine and has had 1on1 matchups with very fast players such Julio Jones, Mike Wallace and Torey Smith this season among others.

I am not overly concerned with Hilton to be honest if there is anything that Belichick excels at it is his ability to take his opponents #1 option out of the game.

Belichick has eliminated or at least held in check:

• Larry Fitzgerald (2012)
• Reggie Wayne (2012)
• Julio Jones
• Jimmy Graham
• AJ Green
• Vincent Jackson
• Antonio Brown
• Josh Gordon
• Demaryius Thomas
• Torey Smith
• Mike Wallace
• Andre Johnson

In the past few seasons so TY Hilton doesn’t exactly panic me.

 

[Nunchucks]

I think we will see a mix of who is covering who based on down, distance, and formation. I doubt we will see one player follow Hilton all over the field. By mixing up the defensive responsibilities, I think the Patriots can keep Hilton off balance.

 

[reflexblue]

Do we go with more of a speed corner and provide help from McCourty or allow Talib to try and shut him down?

I thought you meant Paris Hilton. I could cover her.

 

[BradyFTW!]

They won't be playing him in man coverage, I wouldn't think. If they do, then Talib will definitely get that assignment, since he's the only one who would have a chance. He is our fastest corner, btw.

 

[Double TE]

Talib is just not slow by any stretch of the imagination, he ran a 4.42 forty at the combine and has had 1on1 matchups with very fast players such Julio Jones, Mike Wallace and Torey Smith this season among others.

I am not overly concerned with Hilton to be honest if there is anything that Belichick excels at it is his ability to take his opponents #1 option out of the game.

Belichick has eliminated or at least held in check:

• Larry Fitzgerald (2012)
• Reggie Wayne (2012)
• Julio Jones
• Jimmy Graham
• AJ Green
• Vincent Jackson
• Antonio Brown
• Josh Gordon
• Demaryius Thomas
• Torey Smith
• Mike Wallace
• Andre Johnson

In the past few seasons so TY Hilton doesn’t exactly panic me.

Gordon had a pretty good game. I agree on the others for the most part.

 

[yopats]

fm:
https://twitter.com/chatham58

 

[Brady6]

Gordon had a pretty good game. I agree on the others for the most part.

Yeah but all things considered when you consider he entered the game with 2 straight 200+ receiving yard games he was kept in control.

 

[VrabelJr]

We also can't lose contain on Andrew Luck. He knows when it's time to take off. He's no dummy.

 

[Kontradiction]

If the team goes with man to man coverage, it will probably be Dennard on him (assuming health) with Talib on Fleener ala Graham. If we go with a lot of zone (which we may considering Luck is mobile), it's whomever is matched up with him on any given play.

 

[patsinthesnow]

SB 46:

Cruz: 4 receptions 25 yards

11/24/13 vs. Broncos:

Welker: 4 receptions 31 yards



Just Sayin. BB paid this man 4 million a year for a reason.

 

[PatsDeb]

Does this question even have to be asked? Just hope Talib is resting up and is up to the challenge!

 

[alvinnf]

Zone, I think keeping Luck in the pocket and limiting his ability to convert 3rd downs with his feet will be a bigger story. Hilton will get his but it will have more to do with lucks ability to stay patient and wait for the next window. IMO of course. As someone else already said, I think Fleener Talib would be the matchup to focus on defensively. Nothing will open up that outside part of the field quicker than getting gashed on the seams by a TE.

 

[mtbykr]

I think it does as the field could be wet and the temp not a comfortable 72 degrees but a chillier high 30s - low 40s.

You said grass vs turf, not dome vs outside. My point was that grass is slower than turf, but he will be on turf at Gillette.

 

[Froob]

I'd guess Logan Ryan, unless Alfonzo Dennard is healthy. Talib will get burned by him like Cromartie used to be Welker and Branch. I think colts are the best matchup we could have hoped for. Cincy and kansas city's defense could have given us problems.

 

[Spiral]

I think they should have Talib play man on the other guy. Use numbers on T.Y.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Does this question even have to be asked? Just hope Talib is resting up and is up to the challenge!

We don't want just talib on him...talib is built for guys like megatron...julio jones ect. The Steve Smiths and Hiltons will give him problems as we hav seen. Let Dennard bump him on the line with help over the top....but it's hard to bump a slot guy

 

[PatsSweFan]

Talib played Gordon very well deep down the field but struggled on crossing routes, slants and that for sure is one of Hiltons strengths...I still want Talib on him but with help mostly short over the middle Talib to take care of him outside the numbers and deep

 

[Double TE]

You said grass vs turf, not dome vs outside. My point was that grass is slower than turf, but he will be on turf at Gillette.

You win! I still think he won't be as effective away from the dome. What are his home / road splits?

 

[supafly]

Does this question even have to be asked? Just hope Talib is resting up and is up to the challenge!

While I definitely agree with you on some level, Deb, I think that many here also didn't envision Talib on Miami's Charles Clay instead of Mike Wallace either. As others have mentioned, I also tend to believe that Talib is best used for the taller, more physical receivers in the NFL instead of the smaller, speedier players. We'll have to see what Bill Belichick thinks though, as he obviously has a much better grasp of the situation. I believe that he stated that he was going to compare all of the past attempts on film vs Hilton, and take those aspects into account (of course).

The 2 options are attempting to bump/get physical with Hilton at the line with one of our other CBs, with McCourty offering help over the top in a somewhat double coverage type role. Then Talib would be handling Coby Fleener, who can often be Luck's security blanket just as well.

The other option would obviously be to allow Talib to try and handle the speed and quickness of Hilton, which I'm not as sure about myself. Then again, my opinion means absolutely nothing. Just ask my wife

 

[supafly]

Talib played Gordon very well deep down the field but struggled on crossing routes, slants and that for sure is one of Hiltons strengths...I still want Talib on him but with help mostly short over the middle Talib to take care of him outside the numbers and deep

While that may effective on some level too, we'd need one or more of our other CBs to really step up their game in attempting to handle the other options for Luck.

It is definitely one of the more interesting aspects of the matchup for sure, if not potentially THE most important one overall.